Chapter 149: Eight Hundred Disciples

Cheng Lingyu stood on the large tree, looking downward. The mountain gate lay beneath him, where tens of thousands of cultivators still lingered, refusing to disperse.

The palace of the Second Challenge stood at the tree’s base, where cultivators participating in the Third Challenge gathered. Cheng Lingyu scanned the area and quickly spotted Lan Xiaozhu and Qu Wei among them.

When he gazed upward, the Xiyun Divine Mountain loomed impossibly massive, its peak vanishing into the clouds. He could vaguely make out one or two palaces high in the clouds, hazy and ethereal, like something from a legend.

On the branches, cultivators chatted in small groups, forming alliances for future prospects.

“Why were we teleported here?”

Cheng Lingyu studied the tree and realized all cultivators clustered on a single branch, distant from the trunk. Above him on the trunk glowed a portal dozens of feet tall, emitting faint mysterious light that drew murmurs from the crowd. Many speculated it might be Lou Ri City’s entrance.

After pondering, Cheng Lingyu looked down. Though he couldn’t witness the ongoing trials, he noticed cultivators gradually disappearing from the cliffside while more gathered outside the mountain gate.

New arrivals periodically materialized on the branch, drawing brief curiosity before being ignored.

Though waiting felt endless, the branch’s occupants seemed content. Cheng Lingyu remained unsmiling, anxious for Lan Xiaozhu and Qu Wei’s success.

At dusk, Cheng Lingyu’s spirits lifted as Qu Wei appeared on the branch. He eagerly waved her over. Soon Lan Xiaozhu joined them, completing their trio with shared relief.

The Third Challenge continued through the night. During their vigil, Lan Xiaozhu suddenly stiffened.

“Why is she here?”

Cheng Lingyu followed her gaze to a distant figure. “Who?”

“Situ Caifeng,” Lan Xiaozhu whispered.

Cheng Lingyu gaped. “Wasn’t she missing? How…?”

Qu Wei looked equally shocked. The Situ family had been ruined after acquiring the mid-grade spirit artifact Red Lily at auction, leaving only Situ Caifeng unaccounted for. Her presence here defied all expectations.

Lan Xiaozhu sighed. “Does it matter now?”

The Red Lily from Lanling Holy Palace had destroyed the Situ family. Whatever brought the lone survivor here no longer held significance.

Over time, more cultivators appeared: Song Xuejiao (Shenhuo Sect), Ye Xinyi (Xuanhuo Sect), Nie Jiaolong (Flying Dragon Gang), Du Yaru (Hundred Herbs Sect), and Hong Xiu Tian Xiang (Qin Courtyard). Meanwhile, Jiang Mufeng, Song Chenguang, and Nie Yunlong failed to advance.

By the third afternoon, the selection concluded. From 7,200+ participants, only eight hundred and one succeeded – barely 1% of the original 81,000 aspirants.

Compared to giants like Heavenly Palace or Tianlei Sacred Church with thousands of disciples, Lou Ri City’s eight hundred recruits seemed modest. Yet this marked the city’s first public recruitment in five centuries, making the chosen fortunate indeed.

As tens of thousands departed the mountain gate, the final tally spread among them. Lou Ri City’s selection had ended.

Hua Mantian appeared atop the great tree, standing beneath the portal in its trunk. Bathed in holy light, he looked more imposing than before.

“Eight hundred and one – neither too many nor too few. On behalf of Lou Ri City, I congratulate you for passing three rounds of selection to become our disciples.”

His earlier smile had vanished completely, replaced by solemnity.

“As one of Tianyang Empire’s Three Saints and Four Peerless, Lou Ri City remains the most discreet among the seven great Forces. The world knows little about us.”

Eager faces listened intently, curiosity shining in their eyes.

“Our city’s legacy stretches far back with many past events you’ll gradually learn. Today I’ll simply explain our basic structure. Lou Ri City stands upon Xiyun Divine Mountain – an enormous land formed by nine ridges. The central peak called Lou Ri Ridge hosts our city on its mountainside.”

“These nine ridges contain 108 palaces total, twelve per ridge. The palace you saw during second selection was one such. These twelve palaces per ridge are divided into upper four, middle four, and lower four. The nine ridges represent our nine major branches, with Lou Ri Ridge’s branch being the primary one.”

“This disciple recruitment will assign you to different palaces and branches. Specific numbers per branch depend on circumstances. Now, all approach.”

He flicked his right hand, sending rippling light through the void that instantly removed the time and space restrictions.

Cheng Lingyu joined Lan Xiaozhu, Qu Wei, and others flying towards Hua Mantian.

“Soul Martial Realm stands left, Blood Martial Realm right.”

Cheng Lingyu moved left, noting exactly eighty-one Blood Martial cultivators versus seven hundred twenty Soul Martial ones.

“See the dual-portal behind me? The left portal’s magical – only those fated may enter, automatically assigning them to specific palaces. Each will try; fate determines entry.”

All eyes fixed on the left portal with yearning.

“The right portal connects to certain palaces. City experts will observe through it – those they favor become direct disciples. Others get randomly assigned.”

Murmurs spread through the crowd. Everyone hoped for the left portal – the prime choice. Right portal came second, random assignment last.

Lou Ri City’s three-tiered disciple allocation would shape their futures.

“Blood Martial disciples first. Stand within the footprints before the left portal. When countdown ends without reaction, your turn ends.”

Hua Mantian’s clear explanation drew all gazes to the Blood Martial disciples, anticipation hanging thick.

The first Blood Martial disciple approached nervously. As he stood in the footprints, the empty portal lit up with numbers: “10…9…8…”

Many gasped. Could this portal possess Spirit Communication?

When countdown finished, the first disciple remained. He left dejected.

The portal reset until the next disciple triggered another countdown. At “3”, light swallowed the second disciple.

Cheers erupted. Cheng Lingyu’s pulse quickened – these chosen ones surely had glorious futures.

Time crawled with intermittent shouts. Cheng Lingyu counted thirty-six Blood Martial disciples succeeding.

Now for seven hundred twenty Soul Martial aspirants – how many would prevail?

Cheng Lingyu urged Qu Wei and Lan Xiaozhu first. Both vanished into the left portal.

His turn came. Numbers flickered: “4…3…2…1…”

Despair struck as “1” flashed… until blazing light suddenly engulfed him.

The crowd roared in surprise – Cheng Lingyu had snatched victory at death’s door.

Song Xuejiao and Nie Jiaolong cheered while Ye Xinyi scowled. Situ Caifeng remained impassive.

More succeeded later, including Song Xuejiao and Situ Caifeng. Final tally showed thirty-six chosen from each realm – though Soul Martial’s ratio proved smaller.

Next came right portal selections. Blood Martial disciples all got chosen, their cultivation level advantage decisive.